Ritek 1X DVD-R play problem - Burned w/ Sony DW-U50A

[CaZeek]

Hello,
I'm having a big problem with playing Ritek 1X DVD-Rs, burned with a Sony DW-U50A (using Nero 6.0). The first 10 or so disks burned without any real problems. One had an error, but it was a normal error that happens once in a while. However, the last "30" disks I burned do not play on my DVD player or most computer DVD playing software. Normally, when I play my DVD-Rs on my DVD player, they work, and if there is something wrong, a C:13:00 error message will pop up. The set of disks that didn't work this time yielded a C:13:70 error message. The only way the disks are playable are through Windows Media Player. There were no error messages while burning, and everything seemed to be in order until I decided to test some of them out. Originally I thought maybe they didn't work because I loaded them on to a spool while they were still a bit warm after coming out of the DVD burner (I thought the heat may have damaged the disks). However, I tried burning one disk two days later, and I received the same error. Is it possible that there is a defect with the burner that occured by using it many times in a row? Does this sound more like defective disks? I have burned many of the same disks in the past on this burner without problems. Any help or suggestions are appreiciated!

[DJRumpy]

It appears to be a common problem with Sony players:

http://www.soundreproduction.com/discussion/home_theater/messages/68.html

The error indicates the disc is not recognizable. Unless you changed the format your buring to (i.e IFO instead of UDF/IFO, or somesuch), and nothing else has changed (including the media your burnign to), your player may be failing. If your dvd player is new, then I would suspect something with your burner. Other things to look at include the media your burning to.

Is your DVD player a standalone, or a computer DVD-R drive?

[CaZeek]

Here's the thing though. My DVD player is a stand-alone, but it was playing the large majority of DVDs before. In fact, I tested ones that I burned before that played, and they still played. It's just the new batch that didn't play. Also, I tested it on my DVD-R drive.. I have a laptop and desktop. While I could get the DVDs to work in Windows Media Player, they would not play in other programs like WinDVD. The old DVDs would play in all programs. This means something must be wrong with the disks, no? Whether it was the original disk, or the burner, or something else is what I'm hoping someone knows the answer to. Thanks for the reply, and any more information would be great.

[DJRumpy]

If that's the case, and you have not changed your methods, I would suspect bad media. Did you recently switch to a new package? It doesn't even necessarily have to be a different brand of DVD-R media.

[CaZeek]

I purchased a spool of 50 Ritek 1X DVD-Rs. The first 20-25 worked (other than 1 or 2 with common errors). The remainder had the problem that I was referring to. I have a set of Ritek 4x DVD-Rs coming to me, so I hope it was an odd case of defective media. I heard Ritek was the best on all levels, which is why I chose it, but if the problem is deeper (as in my burner is now defective), then I'm not worried about losing 30 disks.

[cplevel42]

I would suspect that it is NOT a media problem but a problem in Nero that happened after install.

If you have windows xp, revert back to an earlier time when you think that the DVD were burning OK, then burn a trial disc on DVD-RW. If it works, cool, if not, then undo the restoration. Or, just re-install nero. If none of this works, try Nero 5.5.10. If this still does not work, then I believe that it is a Sony or a Ritek problem.

[CaZeek]

Well as for now, I'm out of DVD-Rs as it ate all of them. I'll try installing a new version of nero. I just have to find somewhere to download an older version.. maybe their website? I may purchase a few DVDs from Staples today just to give it a try. Thanks for the help!

[DJRumpy]

I must have missed that. Did you say you upgraded your version of nero when the problem started? I though you said that nothing had changed?

[CaZeek]

Nope, I never upgraded Nero, but I thought he was saying that my Nero may have somehow gotten defective. So I figured I'd give reinstalling it a shot.. it can't hurt =)

[DJRumpy]

If you haven't upgraded, and your original version worked, then reinstalling with your current version should still work if your install is corrupted. Nero comes out with what seems like weekly versions. I agree, that if you upgraded your nero, and something stopped working, that it was probably due to a version bug. If you haven't upgraded anything, and it just stopped working, then I would still lean towards the fact that you have either changed your conversion method (it could be something as simple as changing the UDF version), your media is bad, or your burner is defective. I've been using nero for over a year, and I've never had it just stop working, and espeically not working randomly. Software typically works, or it doesn't. Once it's corrupted, its usually a 'no-go' after that The only exception to this I can think of is some sort of software conflict.

I just had a thought. You might use nero to examine both a working disc, and a non-working disc. It should report the file format (UDF, ISO), or mixed mode. If it's UDF, it should also report the UDF version.

See what, if any, differences there are between the two.

[CaZeek]

On a bad disk it says: UDF/ISO 9660 (mode 1), on a good disk, I get the same: UDF/ISO 9660 (mode 1).

[DJRumpy]

No luck there. Can you tell what UDF version they are using? It should be 1.02.

You can play the upgrade game with Nero, usually without too much trouble. Just make sure you keep the last 2 or three upgrade files, so you can downgrade if necessary. I would simply start by re-installing, using the version your currently using, since it 'was' a known good version. Throwing a new version into an unknown situtation might make matters worse.

[CaZeek]

It is 1.02. Also, I can't install a lower version of Nero, because they don't support my burner. I tried some new disks. Now about 1 in 2 works. The other half get the 13:70 error.. it's something specific, definitely not just random errors. I've never gotten this error before. I'm not sure exactly what's wrong, but I'm still open to any ideas. Also, I'd like to try installing the firmware for my drive. Does anyone know a way to reboot in MS-Dos mode without a floppy disk drive? Thanks again.

[birdygal]

I have a sony DW-U50A in my sony laptop and I use an older version of Nero with no problems. You may want to think twice about trying 4x discs according to my drive it burns -r 2x max I use only ritek

[DJRumpy]

You can (using nero), create an MSDos bootable CD. Just use an existing Windows 98 boot disk as your 'image'. Use the new CD wizard to select a bootable cd as your output.